6-foot-2, 202-pound Maywood (Ill.) Proviso East standout Corey Cooper verbally committed to Illinois earlier this year in time to keep recruiting from becoming too much of a distraction on the field this fall, a practice not uncommon among high schoolers. Cooper's situation was unique because his decision came in the spring before his junior season. Despite committing to a Big Ten program and leaving open the possibility of checking out other schools, Cooper still turned in a terrific season.